Saga

Biography

Saga is a Canadian rock band from Oakville, Ontario. Bassist and keyboardist Jim Crichton and Welsh-born vocalist and keyboardist Michael Sadler are the principal songwriters.
Saga has had numerous line-up changes over the years. Ian Crichton and Jim Crichton were the only two original members who appeared on every album. Sadler appeared on every release, apart from the 2009 album The Human Condition×The Human Condition2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1The Human Condition6:502Step Inside4:583Hands of Time5:314Avalon4:475A Number With a Name4:536Now Is Now4:157Let It Go4:488Crown of Thorns5:499You Look Good to Me5:22. Keyboardist Jim Gilmour was with the band from 1979, making his debut on the album Silent Knight×Silent KnightNovember 1980 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Don't Be Late (Chapter Two)6:02A2What's It Gonna Be?4:27A3Time to Go4:20A4Compromise3:20B1(You've Got) Too Much to Lose (Chapter Seven)4:38B2Help Me Out5:50B3Someone Should4:06B4Careful Where You Step4:18. Drummer Steve Negus performed with Saga until 1986. The lineup was supplemented by many session musicians and live performers from the late 1980s to the late 2000s.
Saga has been awarded gold and platinum albums worldwide and have sold more than eight million albums.

History

Originally known as Pockets, Saga formed in 1977 from the nucleus of Canadian rock band Fludd. In April 1978, they released their self-titled debut album Saga. A modest success in Canada, it would eventually sell over 30,000 copies in Germany as an import.
Their 1979 follow-up album Images at Twilight×Images at TwilightOctober 1979 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1It's Time! (Chapter Three)4:01A2See Them Smile3:25A3Slow Motion3:52A4You're Not Alone5:22B1Take It or Leave It3:58B2Images (Chapter One)6:31B3Hot to Cold5:02B4Mouse in a Maze5:41 gave them their first charting single in Canada, with the song "It's Time" peaking at No. 84 in the Canadian Charts. From the album, the songs "See Them Smile" and "Slow Motion" became strong radio favourites elsewhere. Saga's third album, Silent Knight×Silent KnightNovember 1980 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Don't Be Late (Chapter Two)6:02A2What's It Gonna Be?4:27A3Time to Go4:20A4Compromise3:20B1(You've Got) Too Much to Lose (Chapter Seven)4:38B2Help Me Out5:50B3Someone Should4:06B4Careful Where You Step4:18, was released in 1980, and included the singles "Don't Be Late" and "Careful Where You Step," which continued and furthered the band's international success.
In 1981, the band's fourth album Worlds Apart×Worlds ApartOctober 1981 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1On the Loose4:172Time’s Up4:083Wind Him Up5:554Amnesia3:155Framed5:456The Interview3:497No Regrets (Chapter Five)4:318Conversations4:479No Stranger (Chapter Eight)7:14 was released. The lead single, "On the Loose", finally broke them into the Top 40, peaking at No. 22 on the Canadian Charts in January 1982, and in December 1982, proved to be their breakthrough in America where it peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard chart in February 1983. A second single, "Wind Him Up×Wind Him Up1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Wind Him Up3:352No Stranger (Chapter VIII)3:57", also fared well, with the help of its music video receiving heavy rotation on MTV, and became their next charting single in America, peaking at No. 64 on Billboard in May 1983. Eventually, Worlds Apart was certified Gold in the US in 1983. The band opened for Jethro Tull on their North American tour in 1982, and for Billy Squier on his Emotions in Motion tour in early 1983.
Following on the success of Worlds Apart, the band won the 1982 Juno Award for "Most Promising Group of the Year."
A fifth album Heads or Tales×Heads or Tales12 September 1983 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1The Flyer3:422Catwalk4:233The Sound of Strangers4:104The Writing4:105Intermission5:226Social Orphan3:257The Vendetta (Still Helpless)3:438Scratching the Surface5:139The Pitchman5:33 was released in late 1983 and became another success. The lead single, "The Flyer×The FlyerAugust 1983 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAThe Flyer3:37BThe Writing4:14", fared well in Canada and also became their final U.S. charting single, peaking at No. 79 on Billboard in December 1983. The follow-up single entitled "Scratching the Surface" became popular in Canada, peaking at No. 45 in April 1984.
Their sixth album, Behaviour×Behaviour5 August 1985 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Listen to Your Heart3:572Take a Chance3:533What Do I Know?3:414Misbehaviour4:035Nine Lives of Miss Midi1:176You and the Night5:187Out of the Shadows4:488Easy Way Out4:009Promises4:1310Here I Am3:3411(Goodbye) Once Upon a Time6:36, was released in 1985 and included the singles, "Listen to Your Heart" and "What Do I Know?" (charted No. 57 in Canada).

Separation and reunion

In 1986, Steve Negus and Jim Gilmour left the band over management concerns, soon deciding to form a new band project under the name Gilmour-Negus Project (GNP). In 1988, they released their one and only album, Safety Zone (featuring Robert Bevan on lead vocals). Meanwhile, Saga continued to record and tour, with Michael Sadler and the Crichton brothers augmented by session musicians.
Their 1987 release Wildest Dreams enjoyed better distribution under new label, Atlantic Records, but it failed to match expectations in America. The lead single "Only Time Will Tell×Only Time Will Tell1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksA1Only Time Will Tell4:23B1Humble Stance (recorded live in Munich)5:50B2We've Been Here Before4:46" became a popular chart favourite in Canada (No. 93), with a memorable video rotated on MTV for a brief period. However, the remainder of the album suffered from over-reliance on technology, with armies of sequencers and drum machines replacing much of the band's earlier trademark sound with Gilmour and Negus.
For 1989's The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes, Saga refocused on their earlier European popularity which marked a return to their earlier progressive style with a few sci-fi orientated pop elements to it. In 1992, Steve Negus and Jim Gilmour returned to Saga. The band's next album, The Security of Illusion×The Security of Illusion27 January 1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Entracte (instrumental)0:492Mind Over Matter4:413Once Is Never Enough5:284Alone Again Tonight4:155I'll Leave It in Your Hands4:436The Security of Illusion5:437Stand Up4:218Days Like These4:469Voila! (instrumental)1:4110No Man's Land5:2011Without You6:47, released in 1993, was well received by Saga fans in Canada and Europe. The 1994 followup, Steel Umbrellas, was considered uneven when compared to their previous release, perhaps due to the material originally being produced for the short-lived television series Cobra. However, despite lackluster album sales, Saga's 1993 and 1994 tours helped maintain some of the band's early popularity; their reputation as live performers was not lost among the band's long time fans.

Comeback

In 1995, Jim Crichton composed and produced the majority of Saga's next album, the conceptual Generation 13×Generation 1325 June 1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 25 tracks1Chances Are #11:432Generation 13 (Theme #1)2:433All Will Change (Goodbye & Good Luck)1:584The Cross (Home #3)4:065Danger Whistle0:466Leave Her Alone4:347I'll Never Be Like You0:438'My Name Is Sam' (Finding a Friend)0:379The 13th Generation4:2810The Cross2:0311The Learning Tree4:5912I'll Never Be Like You (Once Again)3:5913Snake Oil1:0814We Hope You're Feeling Better (The Test)4:5815'My Name Is Sam' (Your Time Is Up)2:3616Generation 13 (Theme #2)2:3917Where Are You Now?1:2118Screw'em4:1519No Strings Attached5:2020All Will Change (It's Happening to Me)2:0021The Victim3:0022One Small Step3:2523Sam's New Friend2:3024We Hope Your Feeling Better1:2125Chances Are #21:40. Inspired by a popular political treatise by the same name, the story follows main character Jeremy's troubled search for his real father. The concept is somewhat reminiscent of the storyline in The Who's Quadrophenia. The album's heavier compositions have a sound similar to fellow Canadians, progressive rock band Rush, and even early Kansas.
Saga's next release, Pleasure and the Pain was released on the eve of their 20th anniversary tour in 1997. The album failed to maintain the interest created by the previous release. On the same anniversary tour, the album Phase 1 was released. Phase 1 was an album containing demo songs from the 1979 album Images at Twilight×Images at TwilightOctober 1979 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1It's Time! (Chapter Three)4:01A2See Them Smile3:25A3Slow Motion3:52A4You're Not Alone5:22B1Take It or Leave It3:58B2Images (Chapter One)6:31B3Hot to Cold5:02B4Mouse in a Maze5:41 — some of them were songs found not good enough for the album, some of them were different versions of songs released on Images. The album quickly sold out and a second issue was printed. The album was hard to get and it soon became a most wanted item for Saga collectors and fans.
Their 1998 tour was captured on the next album, Detours×Detours17 April 1998 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11In the Hall of the Mountain King William2:472How Long4:473The Perfectionist5:524Careful Where You Step4:325Ice Nice5:576Don't Be Late7:137Interview3:388Wind Him Up5:479Welcome to the Zoo4:1810Take a Chance4:3411William's Walkabout2:4012The Cross4:14Disc 21Scratching the Surface5:262On the Loose4:553The Security of Illusion5:004I Walk With You3:105Time's Up2:126Heaven Can Wait5:557The Flyer4:548You're Not Alone7:439Framed5:4610Humble Stance12:04, a double-live album released worldwide. Saga's next three albums, 1999's Full Circle×Full Circle3 September 1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Remember When (Chapter 9)5:202The One4:213Follow Me5:074Uncle Albert's Eyes (Chapter 13)5:225Home5:066Don't Say Goodbye5:327Time Bomb4:058Not This Way (Chapter 10)5:049Night to Remember5:4410Goodbye3:59, 2001's House of Cards×House of Cards12 February 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1God Knows5:302The Runaway5:383Always There3:544Ashes to Ashes (Chapter 11)5:075Once in a Lifetime4:226So Good So Far5:027Only Human4:218That's How We Like It!4:539Watching the Clock (instrumental)1:3810We'll Meet Again (Chapter 15)6:0011Money Talks4:0912House of Cards4:23, and 2003's Marathon×Marathon5 February 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Marathon4:592How Are You?5:233Breathing Lessons4:254Hands Up3:455Streets of Gold (Chapter 14)5:116Blind Side of the Heart4:357Return to Forever4:268Too Deep4:369You Know I Know (Chapter 12)4:2110Rise and Shine3:3311Worlds Apart (Chapter 16)6:10 have all been popular with the band's longtime and loyal fanbase. House of Cards, in particular enjoyed renewed interest. Its acoustic-flavoured single, "Money Talks", received Top 5 video airplay in Canada. All three albums included new "chapters", representing a return to the progressive rock of the band's early days. Saga released a new studio album, Network×Network20 September 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1On the Air6:262Keep It Reel4:203I’m Back5:014If I Were You3:505Outside Looking In4:166Don’t Look Now5:077Live at Five5:168Back Where We Started4:199Believe4:5710Don’t Make a Sound6:18, in the fall of 2004. Their next album, Trust×Trust21 April 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1That’s as Far as I’ll Go4:352Back to the Shadows5:143I’m OK5:344Time to Play3:295My Friend3:176Trust5:437It’s Your Life4:098Footsteps in the Hall3:249Ice in the Rain5:0110You Were Right4:0411On the Other Side4:56, was released in 2006, featuring Brian Doerner as their new drummer. Doerner made his debut on a live Canadian television broadcast in late 2005.
Even though Jim Crichton and Michael Sadler both live in Los Angeles, they have not committed Saga to any full-length American tours since 1986. However, in late 2005, Michael Sadler announced a limited tour on the West Coast to promote his solo album, Clear. The trek featured Ian Crichton as touring guitarist. Saga also played one show in New York City during their summer 2006 tour in support of Trust.

The Chapters

The Chapters is the name given to a series of songs that the band revealed over a 28-year period in a mixed-up order, creating a conceptual puzzle. Each song in the sequence was subtitled "Chapter One", "Chapter Two", etc. In its final form, The Chapters tells a cohesive science fiction story concerning the preservation of Albert Einstein's brain, aliens who are concerned with humanity's self-destruction, and the resurrection of the dead through technology.
The first eight Chapters were issued, out of order, across the band's first four albums, issued between 1978 and 1981. After a long layoff, Chapters 9 through 16 were issued, again out of order, across three album releases between 1999 and 2003. Songs from the cycle have been performed in concert throughout their career. The Chapters were finally released all together in a 2 CD live recording called The Chapters Live in 2005.

Legacy and recent activity

Despite the band's fluctuating musical styles and limited commercial success in the United States, their fans have remained extremely loyal over the decades. Their musical style was defined by Ian Crichton's staccato guitar riffs, often in harmony with a synthesizer, and complex keyboard arrangements, frequently featuring three players.
The band has been constantly successful in Germany since its inception. It is also very popular in Puerto Rico; Saga has visited the island twelve times. Saga's second concert in Puerto Rico (1981) caused riots from fans trying to crash into a sold-out concert that sold over 10,000 tickets. Most of the inner cover photographs from the original vinyl release of In Transit (1982) were taken in Puerto Rico, including a live photograph from the 1981 concert. For a few years, a keyboard riff from their song "No Regrets" became the background music for station breaks at WCAD-FM in San Juan. The band received formal recognition as distinguished visitors from the Puerto Rican legislature in February 2005. Their concert on December 9, 2007 (at the Pier 10 Arena club in Old San Juan), was the last concert that Michael Sadler did with Saga until his announcement of returning to the band in January 2011.
On January 16, 2007, it was announced by InsideOut, the band's current record label, that lead singer Michael Sadler would be leaving Saga for personal reasons at the end of 2007. Later that year on Michael's personal site, michaelsadler.com, a note was posted by the singer revealing that his departure was due to a desire to focus on his family life and retire from the stress of being in an active travelling band. A farewell tour of sorts was in the works which also commemorated Saga's 36th anniversary as a band. Saga announced on July 15, 2007, that they were recording a new album in Los Angeles. Titled 10,000 Days the album was released on November 6, 2007, in conjunction with their planned European tour. ("10,000 days×10,000 Days19 October 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Lifeline5:362Book of Lies5:443Sideways4:534Can’t You See Me Now?6:125Corkentellis7:116More Than I Deserve5:237Sound Advice5:17810,000 Days4:319It Never Ends6:10" equates to 27 years, 4.54 months, approximately the amount of time Sadler spent with the band). Sadler also recorded a forthcoming DVD commemorating his last European tour with Saga. Just prior to the release of 10,000 Days, in October 2007 drummer Brian Doerner suffered a heart attack. He has since made a full recovery, but a stand-in drummer (Chris Sutherland) of the Kim Mitchell Band was required to fulfill touring commitments.
Saga announced they were auditioning lead vocalists to continue the band's career. The musicians recorded instrumental versions of "On the Loose" and "Wind Him Up×Wind Him Up1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Wind Him Up3:352No Stranger (Chapter VIII)3:57" for prospective singers to perform on YouTube, with the winning candidate to be announced at a later date. During the search, Ian Crichton remarked that hopeful candidates "should have a set of pipes" as well as personality. The guitarist also remarked that a Canadian would be preferable, presumably because of travel considerations and the band's nationality. Over 20 candidates (including one woman) submitted demos from across the Atlantic and Caribbean.

On April 15, 2008, Saga announced that Rob Moratti of Toronto, former singer of Final Frontier, had joined the band as the new lead vocalist. Moratti's background included more than a decade of experience in the Canadian rock music industry, recently working with the respected guitarist-producer Mladen Zaron. Throughout his tenure with the band, Moratti concentrated on lead vocals, leaving the band's instrumental dynamics somewhat changed from the Sadler era, where the lead vocalist often doubled on bass guitar and keyboards. Saga's first gig with Moratti took place in the summer of 2008. Also, 2008 saw the release of a book about the band's history, Saga: The Biography, by renowned rock journalist (and long-time friend of Saga), Edwin Ammerlaan.
In 2009, Saga released their first CD with Rob Moratti. This CD was titled The Human Condition and was released in the spring 2009. The band toured in Europe and Canada.
On January 28, 2011, an official statement was made announcing Michael Sadler's return as the lead singer of Saga.
On February 1, 2012, Saga announced that after 6 years of touring and recording together, Brian Doerner and Saga have parted ways. Following YouTube auditions, Mike Thorne (a native of Toronto ) was announced as the new drummer of Saga. On July 6, 2012, Saga's twentieth studio album, 20/20, was released. It marked the return of original vocalist Michael Sadler.
On June 27, 2014, Saga released their 21st album entitled Sagacity×Sagacity27 June 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Let It Slide4:492Vital Signs3:273It Doesn't Matter (Who You Are)3:594Go With the Flow5:265Press 93:486Wake Up2:347Don't Forget to Breathe3:258The Further You Go4:049On My Way5:1610No Two Sides3:5811Luck3:3912I'll Be6:21Disc 21Careful Where You Step (live at SWR1 Rockarena, Exerzierplatz, Pirmasens 2013-06-22)4:372Mouse in a Maze (live at SWR1 Rockarena, Exerzierplatz, Pirmasens 2013-06-22)5:493You're Not Alone (live at SWR1 Rockarena, Exerzierplatz, Pirmasens 2013-06-22)6:084The Cross (live at SWR1 Rockarena, Exerzierplatz, Pirmasens 2013-06-22)3:535Scratching the Surface (live at SWR1 Rockarena, Exerzierplatz, Pirmasens 2013-06-22)6:266Humble Stance (live at SWR1 Rockarena, Exerzierplatz, Pirmasens 2013-06-22)5:517On the Loose (live at SWR1 Rockarena, Exerzierplatz, Pirmasens 2013-06-22)5:078Wind Him Up (live at SWR1 Rockarena, Exerzierplatz, Pirmasens 2013-06-22)5:539Don't Be Late (Chapter 2) (live at SWR1 Rockarena, Exerzierplatz, Pirmasens 2013-06-22)7:35, which received mostly positive feedback from fans. The album quickly topped the iTunes rock lists around Europe (most notably in Germany).
A reissue campaign covering the later years (from 1989 to 2007) was announced in 2015, spanning twelve albums in twelve months. However, after five remastered albums the campaign was seemingly aborted without any official statement from the record company, the live recordings intended for the series instead appearing as a live album Live in Hamburg×Live in Hamburg2 September 2016 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11(Goodbye) Once Upon a Time6:502Someone Should4:023You're Not Alone6:204Hot to Cold4:415On the Loose5:096On My Way5:547Scratching the Surface9:418Time to Go4:129I'll Be4:30Disc 21Don't Be Late11:502Wildest Dreams4:103Ice Nice7:074Humble Stance6:125Careful Where You Step7:556Wind Him Up5:437The Flyer5:01 2015, which is strictly limited to 5000 copies worldwide.
In January 2017, Michael Sadler announced Saga's retirement following the completion of their farewell tour dubbed The Final Chapter Tour, which also marked their 40th anniversary. He also said that a "very special one-off performance" would take place on the 2018 edition of Cruise to the Edge in February 2018.
On August 5, 2018, bassist and co-founder Jim Crichton departed the band before the final two shows, and was replaced by new member Dusty Chesterfield. Despite Crichton's departure, he would continue his services in the band. The tour spawned the live release So Good So Far – Live at Rock of Ages, which was released on September 28, 2018.
After reconsideration from the request by the fans, Saga opted to continue with their live performances.
In early 2020, the band performed in Germany and Scandinavia as part of their Out of the Shadows World Tour.
Following the completion of the tour, the band members entered their respective home studios during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns to record an acoustic album titled Symmetry×Symmetry12 March 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Pitchman5:192The Perfect Time to Feel Better: 1. Time to Go / 2. The Perfectionist / 3. We Hope You're Feeling Better8:173Images (Chapter 1)4:564Always There4:085Prelude # 10:496Say Goodbye to Hollywood5:057Prelude # 20:528The Right Side of the Other Hall: 1. Footsteps in the Hall / 2. On the Other Side / 3. You Were Right5:499La Foret Harmonieuse2:0110Wind Him Up5:0911No Regrets (Chapter 5)3:4612Tired World (Chapter 6)6:24, which was released on March 12, 2021. The first single "Tired World" was made available for streaming, followed by "Wind Him Up" and "Always There". For the latter, the fans were asked to send in video material, which was then assembled into a video clip.